Crolla won the world title with a spectacular knockout of Darleys Perez. Venezuelan Barroso secured his position in December when he halted Kevin Mitchell, who has subsequently retired.

“Ismael Barroso is an option, as is [WBC champion] Jorge Linares, until he broke his hand,” Crolla’s trainer Joe Gallagher told Boxing News. “From what I’ve seen [of Barroso] he’s not a bad fighter. I’ve looked at [Dejan] Zlaticanin. Zlaticanin’s a powerful, little southpaw, that was possibly an option as well.

“Anthony’s world champion. When you’re world champion come one come all. That’s who you’ve got to fight.”